Rare Notorynchus cepedianus Shark Tooth Fossil Miocene Belgium Upper Tooth Oorderen Sands Genuine Specimen Certificate Authenticity

Description

Rare Notorynchus cepedianus Upper Shark Tooth Fossil from Belgium

This exceptional Notorynchus cepedianus upper shark tooth fossil originates from the Oorderen Sands deposits of Churchill Docks, Stabroek, Hoevenen, Belgium, an important Miocene fossil locality known for producing well-preserved marine vertebrate fossils. The tooth represents an upper jaw position from the broadnose sevengill shark, a lineage of primitive sharks that still survives today, making it one of the oldest shark groups still present in modern oceans.

The photograph shows the exact fossil specimen you will receive, ensuring complete authenticity and making this a carefully selected piece ideal for fossil collectors, educational collections, and natural history displays.

Full sizing can be seen in the accompanying photographs.

Each fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee card, confirming that the specimen is a genuine natural fossil.

The Shark Species Notorynchus cepedianus

Notorynchus cepedianus, commonly known as the broadnose sevengill shark, belongs to a primitive group of sharks that have retained many ancient evolutionary traits. This species is notable for possessing seven gill slits, unlike most modern sharks which typically have five.

Scientific classification includes:

• Order: Hexanchiformes
• Family: Hexanchidae
• Genus: Notorynchus
• Species: Notorynchus cepedianus

The species was formally described by the French naturalist Pierre Joseph Bonnaterre in 1788. Fossil teeth attributed to this shark appear in the fossil record from the Cretaceous period onward, showing that this lineage has survived for tens of millions of years.

Modern representatives of this species are still found in temperate coastal waters around the world, making it a remarkable example of evolutionary continuity.

Distinctive Tooth Morphology

Upper teeth of Notorynchus cepedianus are highly distinctive and differ significantly from the more triangular slicing teeth of many other sharks.

Typical features include:

• Asymmetrical crown shape
• Multiple cusps along the cutting edge
• Strong primary cusp with smaller accessory cusplets
• Smooth enamel surface
• Robust root adapted for strong jaw attachment

These teeth were adapted for a gripping and cutting feeding strategy, allowing the shark to prey on fish, marine mammals and other marine animals.

In living sevengill sharks, the upper and lower teeth differ in shape. The upper teeth are generally smaller and multi-cusped, while the lower teeth are larger and more comb-like, designed for slicing.

This variation in tooth form is known as heterodonty, a feature common in many shark species.

Geological Formation and Miocene Age

This fossil was discovered within the Oorderen Sands, a Miocene marine deposit exposed during dredging and construction activities in the Antwerp harbour region of Belgium.

Geological details include:

• Formation: Oorderen Sands
• Epoch: Miocene
• Age: Approximately 23 to 5 million years old
• Locality: Churchill Docks, Stabroek, Hoevenen, Belgium

During the Miocene Epoch, much of what is now Belgium was covered by shallow subtropical seas that supported rich marine ecosystems. These waters were home to numerous species of sharks, rays, marine mammals, fish and invertebrates.

The sediments deposited in these environments preserved a diverse fossil assemblage that includes many shark species, making the Antwerp region one of the most productive fossil localities in Europe.

Fossil Preservation and Mineralisation

Shark teeth fossilise particularly well due to the durability of their enamel. After being shed by the shark during feeding or natural tooth replacement, the teeth settled on the seafloor where they became buried by sediment.

Over millions of years, mineralisation preserved the tooth structure while often producing attractive fossil colours.

Typical preservation features may include:

• Dark mineralised enamel
• Strong structural preservation of cusps
• Well-defined root structure
• Natural colour variations produced during fossilisation

These natural characteristics help make fossil shark teeth both scientifically valuable and visually appealing to collectors.

A Rare Fossil from the Miocene Seas of Belgium

Specimens of Notorynchus cepedianus from the Oorderen Sands of Belgium are sought after by collectors due to the importance of the Antwerp region as a source of Miocene marine fossils. The deposits have yielded a remarkable variety of fossil sharks that once inhabited the ancient North Sea Basin.

Fossil teeth from sevengill sharks are particularly interesting because they represent a lineage that has survived with relatively little change for tens of millions of years.

Whether displayed as part of a shark fossil collection, used in geological education, or appreciated as a natural relic from ancient oceans, this rare Miocene shark tooth represents a genuine piece of prehistoric marine history.

The fossil shown in the photographs is the exact specimen you will receive.

All fossils sold are 100% genuine natural specimens and include a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee card.